The Harlot Babylon: Who is She and What does She do?
I. THE GREAT HARLOT: HER JUDGMENT AND SEDUCTION (REVELATION 17:1-2)
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will
show you the judgment of the Great Harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth
committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which
was full of names of blasphemy... (Revelation 17:1-3)
A. We must know the three main themes of Revelation 17-18 which are the emergence of the Antichrist, his ten nation
confederation, and the Harlot Babylon.
B. Babylon the Harlot will be a worldwide counterfeit church or religious network that the majority will not perceive as being
demonic. It will be spiritually dangerous, causing many to deny the faith. She will have 2 dimensions (religious and economic).
We must be aware of her emergence.
C. The Harlot network is spiritual harlotry which in Scripture is a reference to worshipping false gods. When Israel turned
to idols, God called it `whoring after other gods' or `playing the harlot with other gods.' It is a Harlot because it will be
embraced by God’s people (Church and Israel).
D. Spiritual harlotry is synonymous with idolatry (demon worship; 1 Corinthians 10:20-21) that is usually combined with
immorality (orgies), drugs, demonic rituals and the sacrifice of animals or humans (Ezekiel 16, 23; Hosea 2). There are over
25 OT passages that speak of spiritual harlotry.
E. Babylon the Harlot is both a spirit (that has operated throughout history) and an End-Time network that will be
based in the actual rebuilt city of Babylon on the Euphrates River in Iraq. (The antichrist is a spirit that has operated
through history and is a literal man in the End-Times).
F. The city of Babylon will be one of the most powerful economic centers on earth (Revelation 18). Babylon will
surpass New York City, London, Frankfurt, and Tokyo as an economic power and it will surpass Jerusalem, and Rome as
a religious worldwide center.
G. The kings will commit adultery with her by selling out to her demons. The people became drunk (intoxicated or
dizzied) by drinking her cup of her wine (her promises, ways and influences) .
H. Satan has two main strategies to keep the nations from the faith and to cause others to deny it.
I. First, Satan raises up a tolerant, moderate, liberal, humanistic, worldwide religious network called the Great Harlot. It is
a blending or a synchronization of all the main religions in the world. This religious network will sit on many waters or will be
forcefully instituted in many nations (Revelation 17:15). This worldwide network will eventually be burned and become illegal.
J. Second, Satan will raise up an aggressive worldwide religious and economic system. It will be the Antichrist’s worship
movement that is totally intolerant and based on the mark of the Beast.
K. The final stage of Satan’s plans on earth will be to raise up a one-world religious and economic system after the Harlot
is destroyed. It will be instituted after the Abomination of Desolation which includes a speaking idol in the Jerusalem Temple
with the mark of the Beast that enforces all to obey (by legalizing the death penalty for all who refuse). Satan will use miracles
along with the speaking of the Antichrist and the False Prophet to cause people to voluntarily worship him.
L. The angel promised to show John the judgment of Babylon. This speaks of her final judgment because she has
experienced many judgments throughout history. Her judgment occurs in two stages. First, the worldwide religious network
or the Harlot Church will be destroyed by fire near the middle of the final 7 years. This occurs before the Abomination of
Desolation. In this judgment, the locations that host the religious network are burned. Second, judgment will come on the
actual city of Babylon itself as part of the Seventh Bowl judgment.
M. Revelation 17 focuses on religious or spiritual Babylon as a worldwide network. Revelation 18 focuses on economic
Babylon as a literal city that is one of the main economic centers on earth.
N. There is significant difference between the Harlot religious network and the city of Babylon itself from which the religious
network is launched. A city does not teach heresy, rule kings, and kill saints (Revelation 17:18; 18:10, 18, 19, 21), rather, a
network of people do that. (The religious and economic headquarters of the Antichrist’s worship movement may also be
based in Babylon).
O. In the prophecy recorded in Revelation 17-18, an angel revealed to John Satan’s initial strategy to seduce the
nations. It involves raising up a Great Harlot church across the earth. He showed John her nature, history and judgment
(Revelation 17). Then John saw the economic center (Revelation 18).
P. Revelation 17-18, is the longest prophecy in the Book of Revelation (continuing for 42 verses). The prophecy
about the New Jerusalem is 33 verses (Revelation 21:1-22:5). The description of Jesus being commissioned at the
Father’s Throne is 25 verses (Revelation 4-5). Revelation 17-18 is very important.
Q. Revelation 17 is the most difficult chapter in Revelation (if not in the whole Bible) to understand. However, it is
essential because its theme is the coming religion that will powerfully seduce and deceive Israel, the Church, and all the
religions on earth. Those who are deceived by it will end up in the Lake of Fire. In other words, Revelation 17-18 deserves
much careful study and dialogue. The End-Time Church must become familiar with its symbols and concepts.
R. Why is this most important prophecy veiled in such cryptic language? Because the Lord wants us to diligently pour
over every line of it and discuss it often so as to understand its every nuance.
S. The Harlot’s religious unity will be the result of merging popular ideas associated with the world religions. It will
include unifying liberal “Christianity” (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) with moderate Islam and Judaism plus Hinduism,
Buddhism, New Age, etc., Each will be committed to moral and religious tolerance and will need to make compromises to
reach “unity” together.
T. This worldwide Harlot religious toleration and unity (Revelation 17) will be a vital step in setting the stage for the
Antichrist’s intolerant worship movement (Revelation 13). The primary opposition to this Harlot religious toleration will be
“radical” Christianity, Judaism and Islam. These same three groups will also have great zeal in resisting the Antichrist’s
worship movement even unto death. The Harlot network will so zealously kill the saints that she is described as drunk with
blood.
6 I saw the woman (the Harlot), drunk with the blood of the saints… (Revelation 17:6)
U. We want to know the truths of Revelation 17-18 to function as forerunners that prepare the unprepared. We must tell
people about the coming blood thirsty Harlot. Today, religious unity is a popular trend. It will eventually become an official
institution that will have the political and social power to kill those who resist it. It will appear humanitarian, but will be evil
and demonic. Who can argue against religious unity and economic prosperity?
II. THE STRANGE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HARLOT AND THE ANTICHRIST
3 And I saw a woman (Harlot) sitting on a scarlet Beast (Antichrist)…. 7 The angel said to me, "...I will tell
you the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carries her… (Revelation 17:3, 7)
A. The Harlot will sit on the Beast (v. 3) and will be carried by him (v. 7). There will be a mutual relationship in which
she is carried (supported) by the Antichrist, yet she controls him at first.
B. It will be a complete shock to all when the Antichrist turns on the Harlot. The Harlot will rule over religion and
finances. The Antichrist will rule over the military and political forces. A civil war will occur in which Antichrist takes over
worldwide religion and finances. This will be a surprising conflict between the 10-nation confederation (under the Antichrist)
and the Harlot.
16 The ten horns…on the Beast…will hate the harlot, make her desolate…and burn her with fire. 17 For
God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the
Beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. (Revelation 17:16-17)
C. The Harlot will be burned in the middle of the 7 year period and replaced with the Antichrist’s strict religious system.
Babylon will be burned as a city at the Second Coming (Revelation 18).
D. The example of Ernst Rohm: as commander of the SA (Strum-Abteiling or Storm Troopers or Brown Shirts), he was
responsible to keep order in Hitler’s public meetings, etc. Under Rohm, the SA grew to 170,000 by 1931 and was a key to
Hitler's rise to becoming Chancellor of Germany (Jan. 1933). By the end of 1933, the SA, numbered almost 5 million and
was more powerful than the Army (Reichswehr). Rohm made demands to Hitler about the SA having even more power. In
the spring of 1934, the leaders in Germany’s military, banking and industry promised to fully back Hitler if he eliminated
Ernst Rohm, his closest comrade for 15 years (since 1919). On June 30, 1934, called the “Night of the Long Knives,”
Rohm was killed with 77 leading Nazis plus 100 workers. The SA lost all its political function after Rohm was gone.
E. This conflict will be a rude awakening to many who may wake up spiritually and get out of Satan’s web of seduction.
When the conflict happens, the testimony of the prophetic church will be validated and evangelism will increase.
Prophesying this will give credibility when it occurs.
F. Train Illustration: before the Harlot system is established, getting a hold of the truth will be like boarding a train that
is stopped. It will be easy. At the time that the Harlot systems develop, it will be like boarding a train that is going 20 mph.
In other words, it is doable, but will take more effort and risk to jump on it. At time of the Antichrist’s worship movement,
taking hold of the truth will be like jumping on a train that is going 40 mph. It is possible, but much more difficult. Today, we
can get on the “train of truth” and gain understanding in a more leisurely way.
III. MYSTERY OF BABYLON THE HARLOT: HER SIN, POWER, WEALTH AND IMPACT
3 I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her
forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of
the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. 7 But the angel said to me,
"Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her…
(Revelation 17:3-7)
A. The angel gave John details that caused him to marvel. The whole world will marvel and be surprised by the Harlot
and the Antichrist.
8 The beast…those who dwell on the earth will marvel… (Revelation 17:8)
3 All the world marveled and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:3)
B. The mystery that mystified John included: her official legal power to kill, her combination of commerce and religion,
her sudden emergence and then destruction, her depth of depravity yet success before even God’s people, her global
reception, and the civil war destroying her. Those marveling do not know they are impressed with a demonized (yet
dignified) religion and man.
C. To understand the Harlot properly is to experience some of John’s amazement. He marveled at the unrestrained evil
combined with abundant finances; at the role of the apostate (Israel and Church) in killing the saints on a scale that made
them drunk with blood. The Church will marvel at this as the earth's inhabitants marvel over the Antichrist Revelation 13:3.
D. The Harlot will appear elegant, successful and dignified to the earth's inhabitants (Revelation 17:4). Many professing
Christians will argue that such unity and prosperity as seen in the Harlot will be the fruit of our prayers. Many will just ignore
her abominations, deceptions, immorality and murder of the saints. They will resist what the prophetic Church says against
her. We must not be impressed (seduced) by her “successes.”
E. The Harlot Babylon is the mother or source of other harlots (seductive religious systems) and the mother of
abominations (sinful deeds). The name “Babylon” comes from the Hebrew word “babel” which means the “gate of God.” It
also is linked to the word “balal,” which translates “to confuse or confusion.”
F. The woman represents a false religious system that has its foundations in ancient Babylon. It has had many
expressions throughout history. It started as a Mother-Child worship in Babylon. The Babylonians worshipped Queen
Semiramus and her son, Nimrod. This religion spread across the earth. In ancient Rome the concepts were the same
however, the names were different (Fortuna and Jupiter); in Egypt (Isis and Osiris); India, (Isi and Iswara); in Asia, (Cybele
and Deoius); in Greece, (Irene and Plutus); in Asia (Madonna and her child). Israel was warned to not worship in the spirit
of Babylon by worshipping the queen of heaven (Jeremiah 44:16-19, 24-28).
G. Babylon is pictured as a woman in Revelation 17 and a city in Revelation 18. It is the counterfeit reality to Jesus’ Bride
who is pictured both as a woman and as a city in Revelation 21.
H. The Harlot is a Seducer. She uses unity and prosperity as her arsenal to seduce the globe. She uses Bible based
arguments (on unity and prosperity), yet neglects the fasted lifestyle (Matthew 5–7). The Harlot veils her abominations.
She is filthy, immoral, and adulterous. Her religion is a cup of filth. She appears attractive because of the religious unity
and economic prosperity.
I. She murders the true Church. She is drunk with the blood of the saints. She will be an aggressive killer. Radicals will
not be tolerated. Radical Christianity, Judaism or Islam will be rejected by this religious network. All other religions are
tolerated.
J. It is important that we do not join or approve of her in any way. We must not be deceived or seduced by her
appearance of good-willed humanitarianism. Our first priority must be to escape her seduction more than its persecution
and martyrdom. Her network will become a formalized legal organization. Then it will be replaced by the Antichrist’s
intolerant worldwide network.
K. Outline of the rest of Rev. 17: the Beast’s historical root system and power base (Revelation 17:7-13), the inevitable
victory of the saints (Revelation 17:14), the surprising conflict (Revelation 17:15-18)
IV. THE HISTORY OF BABYLON (GENESIS 10-11)
A. The geographical area of ancient Babylonia encompassed approximately 8,000 sq. miles extending from the Tigris
river to the Euphrates river. This is where some think the garden of Eden was located (Genesis 2:14). After Noah’s flood,
in a place called Shinar, the nation of ancient Babel was established (Genesis 10:10). Nimrod was the first king of Babylon. It
is the area associated with modern day Iraq. Abraham grew up in this area which was called Ur of the Chaldeans
(Genesis 11:28).
B. Spiritually, Babylon represents total hatred and rebellion against God. Isaiah speaks of the king of Babylon as a
picture of Satan (Isaiah 14:1-23). Isaiah surely understood that he was prophesying about Satan and not just the king of
Babylon in his day.
C. Revelation 17-18 describes the fall of mystery Babylon. Some see the great city as Rome, Jerusalem or a restored
city in Iraq (Babylon) today.
D. Many scholars interpreted the fall of Babylon as the fall of the Roman Catholic Church and its worldwide Church
organization based in Rome. I believe John prophesied about the actual rebuilding of the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq.
Saddam Hussein invested in restoring the city of ancient Babylon so that it would again become a powerful world class city.
V. THE UNFULFILLED PROPHECIES ABOUT BABYLON
A. The ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt on the Euphrates River in Iraq, or about 50 miles south of Baghdad
(Isaiah 13-14; 47; Jeremiah 50-51; Revelation 17-18).
3 For out of the north a nation comes up against her, which shall make her land desolate, and no one shall
dwell therein…4 "In those days and in that time," says the LORD, "The children of Israel shall come…with
continual weeping they shall come, and seek the LORD their God…13 Because of the wrath of the LORD she
shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified
and hiss at all her plagues. 23 How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken! How
Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!...26 Come against her…and destroy her utterly; let
nothing of her be left…39 It shall be inhabited no more forever, nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to
generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah…," says the LORD, "So no one shall reside there,
nor son of man dwell in it.” (Jeremiah 50:3-4, 13, 23, 26, 39-40)
26 You shall be desolate forever…37 Babylon shall become a heap…an astonishment and a hissing, without
an inhabitant…43 Her cities are a desolation, a dry land and a wilderness, a land where no one dwells,
through which no son of man passes. 49 As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon the
slain of all the earth shall fall…64 Babylon shall sink and not rise from the catastrophe that I will bring upon…
(Jeremiah 51:26, 37, 43, 49, 64)